SOUTH CAROLINA RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I - NAME
SECTION I
This organization shall be known as the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association and shall be an
affiliate of the National Recreation and Park Association.
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
SECTION I
The aims and objectives of this organization are:
A.
To unite in one (1) organization all persons interested in the delivery of Leisure
Services in South Carolina.
B.
To foster and maintain high standards of professional qualifications, training and
ethics.
C.
To stimulate and further interest in Recreation and Parks and in the preservation
and development of the State's Leisure Resources.
D.
To cooperate for mutual benefit with other agencies or organizations with
similar or related objectives.
E.
To strive for the coordination of activities of all agencies, public and private,
concerned with the provisions of Leisure Services.
F.
To act as a central agency through which information related to Leisure Services
can be cleared.
G.
To improve and expand Leisure Services and to promote desirable related
legislation.
H.
To promote recognition of the Recreation and Park profession and provide
professional fellowship.
I.
To function in a manner which will further the interest of the Recreation and Park
movement and its personnel in South Carolina.
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SECTION II
Mission Statement:
The South Carolina Recreation and Parks Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
professional development of its members, promotion of parks and recreation opportunities and quality of
life for all South Carolinians, and the sound stewardship of South Carolina's natural resources through
research, education and service.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
SECTION I
Membership in this Association shall consist of those persons meeting the requirements as provided
hereinafter in the By-Laws. All voting members of Districts, Branches and Committees shall be current
members of the Association.
SECTION II
The South Carolina Recreation and Park Association will not discriminate on the basis of age, color,
creed, national origin, race, religion, or sex.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
SECTION I
The officers of the Association shall consist of the President, President Elect, Past President, Vice
President, Secretary, Treasurer. These officers shall also serve as the Executive Committee. The offices
of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Regional Council Members shall be the elected offices. They
shall be elected by the members as provided in the By-Laws. The Board of Directors shall have the power
to fill vacancies in any of these offices, not otherwise provided in the Constitution and/or By-Laws.
SECTION II
A.
All officers with the exception of the Regional Council Members shall be elected prior to the
Annual meeting of the Association for a period of one (1) year and will serve until their successors
have been elected and duly installed. The term of office for the Association's Officers and Board
of Directors will run from January 1st through December 31st following the Annual Meeting. The
installation of these officials will be at the Annual Meeting.
B.
The Regional Council Members shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and shall serve until
their successors have been elected and duly installed.
C.
The office of Vice President shall be elected for a term of four (4) years. The Vice President shall
become the President Elect, President and then Past President. This will be a four (4) year
commitment on behalf of the Vice President.
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ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION I
There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the Elected Officers, the Chairpersons of existing
Branches, District Representatives; and a representative from SC PRT
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION I
The Executive Committee shall conduct, supervise and control the normal business operation of the
Association subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The Committee shall implement the policy
decisions as approved by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall serve as the Nominating
Committee, the Budget and Finance Committee, the Executive Director Review Committee and the Ways
and Means Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to approve non-budgeted
expenditures that do not exceed $1000.00 without the approval of the Board of Directors. Each member
of the Board of Directors shall receive the Minutes for the Executive Committee meetings during the
week following such meeting; any member of the Board of Director may notify the Executive Director
and/or the Association President of his or her objection to any decision made by the Executive Committee.
If four (4) or more members of the Board of Directors express an objection to an action of the Executive
Committee, such action shall be rendered null and void until the action can be considered by the Board of
Directors. No action taken by the Executive Committee may be implemented sooner than ten (10)
calendar days from the date of such action. The Board of Directors may grant the Executive Committee
the authority to act in behalf of the Board of Directors on specific matters.
SECTION II
The Executive Committee shall include the Association President, President-Elect, Vice President, Past
President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the four (4) District Representatives. A majority of the members
should constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business. The committee shall meet the call of
the President or at the request of three (3) or more of the members.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
SECTION I
The President Elect will appoint vice chairs of the various committees, with the approval of the Board of
Directors. The Vice Chairs will automatically become the chair of their respective committee the
following year. The President and President Elect shall have the option to reappoint the current chair.
This must be agreeable to the Chairperson of that committee.
SECTION II
The Executive Committee shall serve as the Nominating Committee with the Past President serving as the
chairperson.
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SECTION III
All Committees shall submit in writing to the Secretary an annual report to be presented at the Annual
Meeting.
SECTION IV
The Chairperson of all Committees shall submit an annual budget for consideration by the Board of
Directors. All funds accrued by Committees will be submitted to the Association's Executive Director,
who will review them with the Treasurer.
SECTION V
The following is a list of standing committees:
Awards & Citations
Conference – A. Program B. Exhibits C. Site Selection
Marketing – A. Membership B. Publicity C. Magazine
Past Presidents – A. Legislative B. Long Range Planning C. Constitution
Professional Development
Scholarship
Ways and Means
Membership in the Past Presidents Committee is based on membership in good standing and completion
of service to SCRPA as President of the Association.
ARTICLE VIII - BRANCHES
SECTION I
A Branch shall be a group of eight (8) or more Association members who have a common interest in
Leisure Services.
SECTION II
To become a branch, the group of eight (8) as stipulated in ARTICLE III, SECTION I, may petition the
Board of Directors of the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association submitting a copy of their
proposed By-Laws. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, the Branch shall be provisionally
established and will be presented to the general membership of the Association at the Annual State
Conference for approval as a Branch.
SECTION III
Any Branch which fails to meet the following basic requirements shall be placed on probation and if the
branch does not meet the following basic requirements in the following membership year, the branch shall
be rescinded and shall lose its representation on the Board of Directors and the Association Committees.
Rescission shall become effective at the beginning of the second consecutive year in which a branch fails
to meet the following basic requirements have at least eight (8) members. The amendment shall be
effective retroactively to the 2008 membership year.
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Basic Requirements:
1. Have at least eight (8) members
2. Hold at least one annual meeting with the membership
3. Hold at least one annual meeting of the Branch Board of Directors
4. Hold scheduled elections in accordance with the branch by-laws
SECTION IV
All discrepancies between the Association's Constitution and By-Laws and those of the Branches shall be
resolved in favor of the Association's Constitution and/or By-Laws.
SECTION V
Branch activities can receive funds from the South Carolina Recreation and Park Association by approval
of the Board of Directors. All funds accrued by the Branches will be submitted to the Association's
Executive Director, who will review them with the Treasurer.
SECTION VI
Any Branch Chair who fails to hold scheduled elections in accordance with the branch by-laws may be
replaced by the Association President beginning January 1 of the following year.
ARTICLE IX - DISTRICTS
SECTION I
The Association shall be divided into four (4) geographic districts with boundaries as established by the
Board of Directors. The purpose of the districts is to facilitate the exchange of information between the
Board of Directors and the membership of the Association.
SECTION II
Each district shall elect a District Representative who shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors
and as a member of the Executive Committee. Each district may elect other officers such as Secretary,
Treasurer, District Representative Elect, etc. as district may deem necessary. Each district will establish
its own procedure for the succession of its officers.
SECTION III
Each District may establish an annual budget; however, the district must establish a means of generating
revenue in adequate amounts to fund its budget. All funds accrued by a district shall be submitted to the
Association’s Executive Director. The Treasurer will oversee the district account.
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SECTION IV
Each district vice president shall appoint one member to serve on each standing committee where
representation from districts is recommended or required by Constitution or By-Laws of the Association.
District representatives for committees will serve two year terms in conjunction with their district vice
president.
SECTION V
Each district shall meet at least three (3) times during the membership year.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
SECTION I
The Constitution may be amended by a vote of the Association. All proposed amendments to the
Constitution must be submitted to the Chairperson of the Constitution Committee in writing at least fortyfive (45) days prior to the Annual Meeting. All eligible members will receive written notification of the
proposed change(s) ten (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting. Electronic Ballots shall be distributed to all
eligible voting members. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the membership who have voted shall be
necessary for ratification.
SECTION II
The duly approved amendment(s) shall become effective immediately and any By-Laws of the
Association heretofore adopted which are in conflict are hereby expressly rescinded.
SECTION III
There shall be a Constitution Convention every three (3) years. The next convention shall be 2009.
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